January always brings snow and ice unless you live in the most southern part of the United States. Even then, you are not guaranteed to escape January without some harsh weather.
This current mess that came from the west has piled about 8 inches of snow and ice on us. Keeping us inside for a couple of days. So far, we have only been without power for one hour, but many others have not been as fortunate.
The best we can do is prepare and hunker down. We need alternative lighting and heat sources. You can almost count on the power to go out sometime in January—especially if you aren’t prepared. It is better to be overprepared and not need it than to be underprepared and in danger of freezing to death.
This seems to be one of the golden rules of life. Be prepared. We spend our lives studying and thinking about being prepared. School and education are about learning, developing and training. We study for knowledge but also to be prepared. We try to save money so that we might be prepared for the time when we are not able to make any more. The team that wins the game is the team who works hard to prepare mentally and physically.
Every aspect of life is about preparing. The musician, athlete, actor, politician, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, homemaker, and so forth must have a rigid daily routine to experience success.
One reality of life is that there is much for which we cannot prepare.
We hear about cancer but we are never prepared for such a diagnosis. We are not prepared for breaking a bone but then we are suddenly faced with months of recuperation. Accidents and hard times can come suddenly and painfully. These are the things in life that come at us suddenly and out of nowhere. Although they are painful, we have no choice but to face the agony of whatever it is and try to work through it one day at a time.
We prepare for life and we should prepare for death. As long as we live, we have all that comes with life. What about death? We must be prepared for that as well. There are funeral plans we need to make, but most importantly, our eternal plans must be made. Where do you want to spend eternity? Consider, when it comes to the end of our lives and meeting God face to face. Look to him today and prepare your heart and mind. Embrace His gift to us in His son Jesus.
January will not last forever and there is much excitement in January such as college basketball, NFL playoffs, my birthday if I live, the swearing-in of our new President, a raise in Social Security, and many occasions to drink hot chocolate. Do not miss the hot chocolate and do not miss the opportunity to take some time for a few naps on these snowy days. God surely gave us January to hibernate a little and rest after the hectic holidays.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools, including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books and his column is published in all 50 states. Visit Dr. Glenn Mollette online at glennmollette.com. Find his books on amazon.com and stream his music on all streaming platforms.